Boys Track and Field: Diego Villalobos, Glenbard West soar to sectional title

ELMHURST – Diego Villalobos typified Glenbard West's effort at the Class 3A York Sectional Thursday.

On his final triple jump in the final event with everyone watching, Villalobos delivered a first-place, school-record 46-feet, 0.5-inch jump.

“I just jumped in the air and celebrated. I was so happy,” said Villalobos, a senior.

“I’m thankful for everything. To finally be the one performing [at state], it’s just a great feeling.”

Strong seniors carried the Hilltoppers to their second consecutive sectional title, with 105 points, and 10 state meet entries with top-two finishes or by achieving state-qualifying standards. Senior Tyquan Cox advanced in all four of his events.

Second-place Wheaton Warrenville South (98) also advanced 10 entries. Senior sprinter Cedric Rowzee went four-by-four by winning the 100 (10.68) and 200 (21.56) and anchoring the winning 400 relay with seniors Andy Campbell, Mario Haro and Steven Tweitmeyer (42.18) and 800 relay with sophomore DJ Almeda, Campbell and Haro (1:28.18).

“I’ve never done that in my life. I wanted to do that before I graduate, get 40 points for my team,” Rowzee said.

Wheaton North (87.33) and York (64) were third and fourth with nine and five state berths, respectively.

Cox won long jump with a school record 22-10 1/4 and advanced with second in the 100 (10.81) and 200 (21.97) and anchoring the second-place 400 relay with Kam Bedford, Villalobos and Oscar Berrun (42.23).

In the 3,200, Glenbard West seniors Rory Cavan (9:12.94) and Stephen Moody (9:17.75) finished 1-2 and Cavan was second in the 1,600 (4:21.25). Senior Will O’Brien won the 800 (1:55.72) and senior Adam Dau was second in shot put (53-4) with personal bests.

“It’s super exciting,” Cavan said. “Stephen and I’ve been training together for four years. To qualify for state together side by side was really special.”

WW South senior and returning 1,600 all-stater Sean Maison (4:21.15) won by .10.

Senior Jake MacConnachie (14-9 in pole vault), the 3,200 relay of David Zeller, Jacob Kluckhohn, senior Scott Maison and Sean Maison (7:59.13) and the 1,600 relay of Tweitmeyer, Matt Rice, Shanne Johnson and Joe Franke (3:25.67) were second. Fourth-place Billy Hauenstein (3,200 in 9:26.35) and fifth-place Josh Browning (154-8 in discus) advanced.

Browning’s personal-best by 10-8 edged the 154-0 qualifying standard. Because of illness, Campbell joined the 400 relay this week. Last year’s sectional 800 relay dropped the baton.

“All week during practice, the coaches were telling us strong passes, don’t worry,” Haro said.

In 2018, Scott Maison missed the 3,200 cut by 1.73 seconds. He and Kluckhohn were injured most of this outdoor season.

“Making it is crazy. A couple of weeks ago, I was on the fence of even running this season,” Scott Maison said.

Wheaton North senior Eli Odell won the 300 intermediate hurdles (38.99) and two events later anchored the winning 1,600 relay with freshman Ryan Schreiner, senior Briggs Cecil and sophomore Jimmy Vercoe (3:22.07).

“I’ve been doing it for most of the year – a little tired,” Odell said. “My teammates got me in good position.”

Senior Josh James won the 110 high hurdles (14.68) and was second in the 300s (39.37). Jake Johnson (158-2 in discus) and Rick Hummel (155-3) advanced going 2-3 in discus, Evan Lendy was second in long jump (21-9 3/4) and the third-place 3,200 relay of Henry Frye, Mauricio Xochitecatl, Kevin Boehm and Kevin Logan (8:00.09) and fourth-place Connor Zydek (3,200 in 9:24.84) qualified.

Boehm shaved more than three seconds off his split (1:59.4). It’s his first state meet since cross country as a freshman.

“We were looking more to qualify on place than time

(8:03.03 cut),” Boehm said. “It’s whacky that we all just had wonderful days.”

York received victories from junior Eric Sylvester won the 400 (50.36) and junior Daniel Klysh, sophomore Sam Ayers and juniors Ethan Kern and Michael Moriarty in the 3,200 relay (7:56.64). Junior Richard Buehling (44-6 1/2 in triple jump) and Moriarty (800 in 1:56.58) were second and senior pole vaulter Brendan Hill shared fourth with his qualifying 14-3.

After his lifetime best, Sylvester thanked 2017 graduate and track mentor Kurt Namini.

“[Namini] was like a big brother that I never had and that just made me love the sport,” Sylvester said. “Ever since then I’ve been grinding. To get to this (time) is a big barrier for me.”